Sitcom Style: Inside America's Favorite TV Homes

I absolutely love this book!! If you are a TV fanatic like me you will like this book too. It shows you different sitcom homes and the decor and talks about how they are decorated and gives you pointers if you want to decorate the same way.

Sitcom Style provides an in-depth look at the process, styles and techniques utilized by set designers to make the unknown television character immediately familiar to the television audience. The book strikes a perfect balance between trivia on some of the most famous pieces of furniture ever seen on television, such as Archie Bunker's chair, and close ups of the actual technical diagrams used by television producers. Ms. Friedman's lucid explanations on the relationship between a television character's projected personality and a set designers choice of furniture and layout, provides valuable insight into the design of any living space. Detailed deconstructions of various sets, such as the open layout of Frasier's sophisticated living room or the use of a club chair to project the assured confidence of Murphy Brown, end up being valuable guides in how to project your own sense of character in your personal living space. The inclusion of a buying guide at the end of the book with accompanying websites and phone numbers is helpful as well. While the book already does a great job of providing decorative insight along with television history, one would hope the author would do another book with even more home decoration tips. My only detraction would be the failure to examine some of the more popular canine abodes on television. Strongly suggested as a holiday gift to anyone who enjoys television history and trivia, home decoration and style, or both!

A great design reference for anyone interested in the history of television sets and production...plus a fun read.

I always enjoyed when Entertainment Weekly would go behind the scenes of a popular show and call out the details of its set -- the books and knickknacks on the shelves, the pictures on the fridge, the paintings on the walls. Here we have an entire book of close-up looks at sitcom sets from the last 40+ years. It's a fascinating, guilt-free trip inside your favorite homes. I could do without the decorating tips, but the backstage trivia makes for a fun read.

I bought this book after reading its review in the New York Times. It is novel,fun,informative and brings back fond memories of programs I have enjoyed through the years. I would highly reccomend it.